Refueling vehicle

ABSTRACT

A refueling vehicle may have a front fuel dispensing module with at least one or more hoses for dispensing fuel product from the fuel tank to an external tank. The front fuel dispensing module is located between the cab and the fuel tank containing the fuel product.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of this disclosure contains material that is subject tocopyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to thefacsimile reproduction by anyone of the material subject to copyrightprotection as it appears in the United States Patent & TrademarkOffice's patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

An Application Data Sheet is filed concurrently with this specificationas part of the present application. Each application that the presentapplication claims benefit of or priority to as identified in theconcurrently filed Application Data Sheet is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety and for all purposes.

FIELD

Embodiments generally relate to an improved refueling vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Refueling vehicles, such as a tanker, have traditionally been used todeliver a large amount of gasoline to an underground tank of a gasstation.

SUMMARY

Provided herein are some embodiments. In an embodiment, the design isdirected to an improved refueling vehicle. The improved refuelingvehicle can have many improvements such as front fuel dispensing module,dual hoses and hose reels, a fuel tank with multiple compartments andreinforcements, overfill protection for the tank, pumping system fordispensing multiple different kinds of fuel product, a lightsaber/safety light bars forming a working zone, a Central command moduleinstalled in the vehicle, and many more improvements.

In an embodiment, a refueling vehicle may have a front fuel dispensingmodule with at least one or more hoses for dispensing fuel product fromthe fuel tank to an external tank. The front fuel dispensing module islocated between the cab and the fuel tank containing the fuel product.

These and other features of the design provided herein can be betterunderstood with reference to the drawings, description, and claims, allof which form the disclosure of this patent application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The multiple drawings refer to the example embodiments of the design.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a front fuel dispensingmodule located between the cab and the tank containing the fuel product.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the front fueldispensing module containing both a driver-side hose reel with a firsthose on a driver's side of the refueling vehicle and a curbside hosereel with a second hose on a curbside side of the refueling vehicle.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the fuel tank locatedbehind the fuel dispensing module and over the rear axle and the set ofrear wheels.

FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of fuel tank located afterthe fuel dispensing module.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the safety light barsforming a working zone.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of one or more safetylight bars that are made up of LEDs in a vertical orientation.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a flow diagram of an embodiment of actuatingone or more safety light bars mounted on the refueling vehicle to form asafe working zone.

While the design is subject to various modifications and alternativeforms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example inthe drawings and will herein be described in detail. The design shouldbe understood to not be limited to the particular forms disclosed, buton the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of thedesign.

DETAILED DISCUSSION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth,such as examples of specific data signals, named components, number ofwheels in a device, etc., in order to provide a thorough understandingof the present design. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinaryskill in the art that the present design can be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, well known components or methodshave not been described in detail but rather in a block diagram in orderto avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present design. Further, specificnumeric references such as a first refueling vehicle, can be made.However, the specific numeric reference should not be interpreted as aliteral sequential order but rather interpreted that the first refuelingvehicle is different than a second refueling vehicle. Thus, the specificdetails set forth are merely exemplary. Also, the features implementedin one embodiment may be implemented in another embodiment wherelogically possible. The specific details can be varied from and still becontemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the present design.The term coupled is defined as meaning connected either directly to thecomponent or indirectly to the component through another component.

The refueling vehicle has many features and some example features willbe discussed below.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a front fuel dispensingmodule located between the cab and the tank containing the fuel product.The refueling vehicle 100 can include many components including a cab, afuel tank, wheels, and a front fuel dispensing module. The fuel tankcontains fuel product such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, etc. A frontaxle is connected to a set of front wheels, which are located under thecab. A rear axle connects to a set of rear wheels, which are locatedunder the fuel tank. The front fuel dispensing module is located betweenthe cab and the tank containing the fuel product. The front fueldispensing module has at least one or more hoses for dispensing fuelproduct from the fuel tank to an external tank.

The front fuel dispensing module can be a 24″ wide cabinet behind thecab with roll up doors on each side. Inside the front fuel dispensingmodule there is a driver-side hose reel with a first hose on a driver'sside of the refueling vehicle 100 and a curbside hose reel with a secondhose on a curbside side of the refueling vehicle 100 so an operator candeliver fuel product from both sides of the refueling vehicle 100through at least one of the hoses without having to reposition therefueling vehicle 100. (E.g. See FIG. 5 ). The certified flow meter canbe in this cabinet and the register can be mounted in the cab. Themodule can further include the fueling nozzle with auto shut-off and awater-absorbing micron filter/separator. An optional second flow metercan be used if two different fuel products are being carried, such asgasoline and diesel; and thus, two different fuel products are capableof being dispensed from the same refueling vehicle 100. The fuel tankcan have an aluminum i) square tank design and/or ii) oval shaped tank,with full skirting to create a smooth uniform tank layout.

The refueling vehicle 100 may include Mini Tankers, Diesel Refuelers,and Pickup Refuelers, and other trucks. The refueling vehicle 100 may beimplemented in several different designs as shown in the exampledrawings and images. The refueling vehicle 100 is built and assembled incompliance with all applicable standards and requirements including NFPA30A, NFPA 385, CFR 172, IFC Chapter 57 and FMCSA DOT 406.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the front fueldispensing module containing both a driver-side hose reel with a firsthose on a driver's side of the refueling vehicle and a curbside hosereel with a second hose on a curbside side of the refueling vehicle.Thus, the refueling vehicle 100 has dual hoses and dual hose reels: onehose reel on the curb side and another hose reel on the driver sidecompared to a standard refueling truck, which just has one hose reelgenerally on the back of the truck.

In an example, each hose reel may be electrically powered to rewind afuel hose, such as a- 1 inch×50 foot hose. The hose may be a lowpermeability hose. Note, the hose may have a removable fuel nozzle toallow for faster tank-to-tank fuel product transfers. Alternatively, thehose may have a spliced connection, such as a 2″ drylock, for an APIconnector for a tank-to-tank fuel product transfer to an externalstorage tank. The external storage tank can be located in the ground oron another refueling vehicle 100. In an embodiment, each hose has itsown spliced connection leading to a connector for a tank-to-tank fuelproduct transfer. The connector for the tank-to-tank fuel producttransfer is located between a fuel nozzle on that hose and a pumpsupplying the fuel product. The hose size and its larger sized connectorfor a tank-to-tank fuel product transfer allow a 30 GPM flow rate vs 10GPM limit through a fuel nozzle.

Note, the hose reel may be a spring rewind hose reel with i) a shutoffvalve, ii) a ¾″ (up to 1″)×50 foot petroleum hose, and iii) a fueldispensing nozzle. Alternatively, the hose reel can be anelectric-powered rewind hose reel. Again, a separate hose and hose reelcan be used for dispensing each of the two or more different types offuel product, such as gasoline and/or diesel.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the fuel tank islocated behind the fuel dispensing module and over the rear axle and theset of rear wheels. The fuel tank of the refueling vehicle 100 islocated behind the fuel dispensing module and over the rear axle and theset of rear wheels in order to make a weight of the fuel tank and itsgallons of fuel product to be better distributed over both the front andrear axles.

FIG. 2 also illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of a start of thefuel tank that begins after the fuel dispensing module and a remainderof the fuel tank stretches over the rear axle and the set of rear wheelsnear a rear bumper of the refueling vehicle 100.

The fuel tank can have an aluminum i) square tank design (e.g. see FIG.2 ) and/or ii) oval/elliptical shaped tank (e.g. see FIG. 1 ), with fullskirting to create a smooth uniform tank layout above the rear wheelsbehind the front fuel dispensing module.

Again, the fuel tank is no longer directly behind the cab of therefueling vehicle 100 but rather the fuel tank is located after the fueldispensing module. (E.g. see FIG. 4 ). A start of the fuel tank beginsafter the fuel dispensing module and a remainder of the fuel tankstretches over the rear axle and the set of rear wheels near a rearbumper of the refueling vehicle 100 in order to better distribute theweight of the fuel tank and its gallons of fuel product to over both thefront and rear axles; and thus, put less weight of the fuel tank and itsgallons of fuel product on mainly the front axle when braking therefueling vehicle 100. Thus, by placing the fuel dispensing module inthe front of the refueling vehicle 100 that then puts the weight of thetank to be more evenly and/or better distributed over both the front andrear axles; and thus, put less weight of the tank and its gallons offuel product on mainly the front axle when the gallons of fuel productand its tank are moving in a forward direction and the brakes of thevehicle are trying to stop the entire vehicle. Accordingly, this designwith better weight distribution across both wheel axles translates tobetter braking distance for the refueling vehicle 100. Also, this designwith the better weight distribution of the fuel tank also helps inminimizing structural damage due to weight effects on the front axle.

In addition, the refueling vehicle 100 now is effectively longer inwheel base by moving the tank and the rear wheels more to the rear ofthe vehicle even though the overall length of the vehicle from bumper tobumper remains approximately the same. The rear wheels compared to astandard refueling truck have been moved aft or rear so that the wheelsare positioned underneath the tank aft or rear of the center of thetank. The rear wheels are closer to the bumper of the vehicle. Again,the rear axle and wheels now assume more of the weight load from thatfuel tank and its gallons of fuel product removing some of that weightdistribution from the front axle. The overhang portion of the fuel tankfrom the rear wheels is now far less distance from the rear wheels tothe back bumper than in a standard wheel on standard refueling vehicle.

FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of the safety light barsforming a working zone. FIG. 5 also illustrates a diagram of anembodiment of the safety light bars attached to its own mechanical armthat uses an actuator to go from a vertical orientation to a horizontalorientation that extends outward.

The fuel module upfront allows the creation of a rapidly and safelyestablished work zone with the safety light bars. One or more safetylight bars can be used to form a safe working zone for the refuelingvehicle 100. The safety light bars use an actuator to go from a verticalorientation to a horizontal orientation that extends outward. The safetylight bar, like a stop sign on a school bus, can be mechanically changedfrom the vertical position to the horizontal position. Note, FIG. 6shows an example of the safety light bar in a vertical orientation onthe refueling vehicle 100.

Each of the safety light bars is generally made up of durable LEDs. TheLEDs are attached electrically and mechanically to the mechanical arm.

FIG. 6 illustrates a diagram of an embodiment of one or more safetylight bars that are made up of LEDs in a vertical orientation. Themechanical actuator can have an electrical harness run along outside themechanical actuator or electrical cables run inside of the mechanicalactuator to power the LEDs on the mechanical arm. The safety light barcan either use LEDs that are configured to be i) bright continuouslights, ii) flashing lights, or iii) a combination of bright andflashing lights when in a horizontal orientation that extends outward.The LEDs may be tribal whip LEDs. The LEDs/lights are bright or flash tokeep vehicular traffic from getting close to the work zone. All lightingon the light safety bar will be LEDs with vapor proof wiring as well aslighting that meets all federal motor vehicle safety standards.

The LED light assembly attached to the mechanical arm is flexible and isdesigned to bend when the LED light assembly brushes or hits against anobject. The mechanical arm also has a pin connection to allow the arm tobe disconnected. The mechanical arm is configured to have a pinconnection with a detachable pin to allow the mechanical arm to bedisconnected when either the safety light bar or the mechanical arm getsstuck in a horizontal extended outward position.

Extending the safety light bar from the vertical position to thehorizontal position with the lights on creates the safe work zone, whichallows a large time savings and safe work area for the refuelingoperation from the front fuel module.

The layout of the fuel module up front in the refueling vehicle 100,cabinets, and configuration saves time while improving safety. The fuelmodule behind the cab saves up to one minute per fueling. The safetylight bar can cooperate to provide increased safety with some LED lightbars mounted along the top of the refueling vehicle 100.

The layout of the fuel module up front in the refueling vehicle 100 withthe light saber reduces both steps and time for fueling operations whileimproving operator safety. A previous technique could use the followingsteps.

1) Operator steps out of the truck;

2) Operator walks to the back of the truck to pick up cones;

3) Operator places the cones to establish a safety zone;

4) Operator walks back to the truck to lift the nozzle and start fuelingprocedure;

Note, on average these 4 steps can take 32 seconds to perform.

5) After a fueling operation, the operator returns the fuel nozzle tothe fuel module on the back of the truck;

6) Operator proceeds to pick up the cones;

7) Operator places the cones on the back of the truck; and

8) Operator returns to the cab. The total time can be well over a minuteto take all 8 steps.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a flow diagram of an embodiment of actuatingone or more safety light bars mounted on the refueling vehicle to form asafe working zone. An operator can take the following steps with thesafety light bars to do fueling operation.

1) In step 702, the operator actuates the safety light bars mounted onthe refueling vehicle to form a safe working zone. Each of the safetylight bars can be attached to a mechanical arm that uses an actuator togo from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation that extendsoutward.

2) In step 704, the operator steps out of the refueling vehicle to go toa front fuel dispensing module located between a cab of the refuelingvehicle and a tank containing the fuel product. The front fueldispensing module is also located within the safe working zone createdby the one or more safety light bars mounted on the refueling vehicle.The operator walks to the side of the truck to start fueling operation.

3) In step 706, the operator starts the fueling operation to dispensethe fuel product from a hose in the front fuel dispensing module.

Note, on average these three steps can take 5 seconds to perform.

4) In step 708, after the fueling operation, the operator places thehose and nozzle back on the hose reel in front fuel dispensing module onthe driver's side. The operator restores the hose on the hose reel toits stowage position in the front fuel dispensing module.

5) In step 710, the operator steps back on the truck, entering into thesafety of the cab of the refueling vehicle from the front fueldispensing module located right behind the cab.

6) In step 712, the operator deactivates the safety light bars and theyraise back up to the vertical position. Thus, the operator actuates theone or more safety light bars mounted on the refueling vehicle via theactuator to go from the horizontal orientation that extends outward backup into the vertical orientation.

Note, on average these three steps also take another 5 seconds toperform. The total time for the six steps (not including the actual timeto dispense the fuel product) takes about 10 seconds.

The refueling vehicle may use a command module which can include aneasy-to-read display screen. The command module can include awireless/cellular data transfer system. The wireless/cellular datatransfer kit will have a radio modem and an antenna. The command modulecan facilitate refueling by mobile fuel carriers of vehicles of approvedusers at approved mobile refueling locations. The system may include aserver connected to a network and a database accessible by the serverthat includes approved refueling location information and approved userand user vehicle information, including vehicle identification fuelpreference information. The command module communicates with the servervia the network, the command module receives refueling requestinformation including user identification and vehicle locationinformation from the server. The server sends these refuelinginstructions to the command module having its user interface whichallows updating of route information with real-time informationpertaining to user requests and fuel carrier location data. The commandmodule can include at least one non-transitory processor-readable mediumthat stores at least one of processor-readable data orprocessor-executable instructions; and at least one processorcommunicably coupled to the at least one non-transitoryprocessor-readable medium and to at least one data communicationschannel. The instructions executed by the at least one processor canperform many functions discussed herein. For example, the instructionsexecuted by the at least one processor can determine a target vehicle tobe refueled; to receive location information for the target vehicle overthe at least one data communications channel; and to provide refuelingvehicle GPS location, and the refueling instructions and locationinformation for the target vehicle.

Network

A number of electronic systems and devices can communicate with eachother in a network environment in accordance with the embodimentsdiscussed herein. The network environment has a communications network.The network can include one or more networks selected from an opticalnetwork, a cellular network, the Internet, a Local Area Network (“LAN”),a Wide Area Network (“WAN”), a satellite network, a fiber network, acable network, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, thecommunications network is the Internet. There may be many servercomputing systems and many client computing systems connected to eachother via the communications network.

The communications network can connect one or more server computingsystems selected from at least a first server computing system and asecond server computing system to each other and to at least one or moreclient computing systems as well. The server computing systems can eachoptionally include organized data structures such as databases. Each ofthe one or more server computing systems can have one or more virtualserver computing systems, and multiple virtual server computing systemscan be implemented by design. Each of the one or more server computingsystems can have one or more firewalls to protect data integrity.

The at least one or more client computing systems can be selected from afirst mobile computing device (e.g., smartphone with an Android-basedoperating system), a second mobile computing device (e.g., smartphonewith an iOS-based operating system), a first wearable electronic device(e.g., a smartwatch), a first portable computer (e.g., laptop computer),a third mobile computing device or second portable computer (e.g.,tablet with an Android- or iOS-based operating system), a firstrefueling vehicle, a second refueling vehicle, and the like. The clientcomputing system can include, for example, the software application orthe hardware-based system in which may be able exchange communicationswith the first refueling vehicle, and/or the second refueling vehicle.Each of the one or more client computing systems can have one or morefirewalls to protect data integrity.

It should be appreciated that the use of the terms “client computingsystem” and “server computing system” is intended to indicate the systemthat generally initiates a communication and the system that generallyresponds to the communication. For example, a client computing systemcan generally initiate a communication and a server computing systemgenerally responds to the communication. No hierarchy is implied unlessexplicitly stated. Both functions can be in a single communicatingsystem or device, in which case, the client-server and server-clientrelationship can be viewed as peer-to-peer. Thus, if the first portablecomputer (e.g., the client computing system) and the server computingsystem can both initiate and respond to communications, theircommunications can be viewed as peer-to-peer. Additionally, the servercomputing systems include circuitry and software enabling communicationwith each other across the network.

Any one or more of the server computing systems can be a cloud provider.A cloud provider can install and operate application software in a cloud(e.g., the network such as the Internet) and cloud users can access theapplication software from one or more of the client computing systems.Generally, cloud users that have a cloud-based site in the cloud cannotsolely manage a cloud infrastructure or platform where the applicationsoftware runs. Thus, the server computing systems and organized datastructures thereof can be shared resources, where each cloud user isgiven a certain amount of dedicated use of the shared resources. Eachcloud user's cloud-based site can be given a virtual amount of dedicatedspace and bandwidth in the cloud. Cloud applications can be differentfrom other applications in their scalability, which can be achieved bycloning tasks onto multiple virtual machines at run-time to meetchanging work demand. Load balancers distribute the work over the set ofvirtual machines. This process is transparent to the cloud user, whosees only a single access point.

Cloud-based remote access can be coded to utilize a protocol, such asHypertext Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”), to engage in a request andresponse cycle with an application on a client computing system such asa web-browser application resident on the client computing system. Thecloud-based remote access can be accessed by a smartphone, a desktopcomputer, a tablet, or any other client computing systems, anytimeand/or anywhere. The cloud-based remote access is coded to engage in 1)the request and response cycle from all web browser based applications,3) the request and response cycle from a dedicated on-line server, 4)the request and response cycle directly between a native applicationresident on a client device and the cloud-based remote access to anotherclient computing system, and 5) combinations of these.

In an embodiment, the server computing system can include a serverengine, a web page management component, a content management component,and a database management component. Alternatively, a residentapplication on the device rather than the browser may directly call andcommunicate with the backend server. The server engine can perform basicprocessing and operating-system level tasks. The web page managementcomponent can handle creation and display or routing of web pages orscreens associated with receiving and providing digital content anddigital advertisements. Users (e.g., cloud users) can access one or moreof the server computing systems by means of a Uniform Resource Locator(“URL”) associated therewith. The content management component canhandle most of the functions in the embodiments described herein. Thedatabase management component can include storage and retrieval taskswith respect to the database, queries to the database, and storage ofdata.

In some embodiments, a server computing system can be configured todisplay information in a window, a web page, or the like. An applicationincluding any program modules, applications, services, processes, andother similar software executable when executed on, for example, theserver computing system, can cause the server computing system todisplay windows and user interface screens in a portion of a displayscreen space. With respect to a web page, for example, a user via abrowser on the client computing system can interact with the web page,and then supply input to the query/fields and/or service presented bythe user interface screens. The web page can be served by a web server,for example, the server computing system, on any Hypertext MarkupLanguage (“HTML”) or Wireless Access Protocol (“WAP”) enabled clientcomputing system (e.g., the client computing system) or any equivalentthereof. The client computing system can host a browser and/or aspecific application to interact with the server computing system. Eachapplication has a code scripted to perform the functions that thesoftware component is coded to carry out such as presenting fields totake details of desired information. Algorithms, routines, and engineswithin, for example, the server computing system can take theinformation from the presenting fields and put that information into anappropriate storage medium such as a database (e.g., database). Acomparison wizard can be scripted to refer to a database and make use ofsuch data. The applications may be hosted on, for example, the servercomputing system and served to the specific application or browser of,for example, the client computing system. The applications then servewindows or pages that allow entry of details.

Computing Systems

A computing system can be, wholly or partially, part of one or more ofthe server or client computing devices in accordance with someembodiments. The computing systems are specifically configured andadapted to carry out the processes discussed herein. Components of thecomputing system can include, but are not limited to, a processing unithaving one or more processing cores, a system memory, and a system busthat couples various system components including the system memory tothe processing unit. The system bus may be any of several types of busstructures selected from a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures.

The computing system typically includes a variety of computingmachine-readable media. Computing machine-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by computing system and includesboth volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removablemedia. By way of example, and not limitation, computing machine-readablemedia use includes storage of information, such as computer-readableinstructions, data structures, other executable software or other data.Computer-storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM,EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other tangible medium which can be used to store the desiredinformation and which can be accessed by the computing device.Transitory media such as wireless channels are not included in themachine-readable media. Communication media typically embody computerreadable instructions, data structures, other executable software, orother transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media.

The system memory includes computer storage media in the form ofvolatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM) andrandom access memory (RAM). A basic input/output system (BIOS)containing the basic routines that help to transfer information betweenelements within the computing system, such as during start-up, istypically stored in ROM. RAM typically contains data and/or softwarethat are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on bythe processing unit. By way of example, and not limitation, the RAM caninclude a portion of the operating system, application programs, otherexecutable software, and program data.

The drives and their associated computer storage media discussed above,provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures,other executable software and other data for the computing system.

A user may enter commands and information into the computing systemthrough input devices such as a keyboard, touchscreen, or software orhardware input buttons, a microphone, a pointing device and/or scrollinginput component, such as a mouse, trackball or touch pad. The microphonecan cooperate with speech recognition software. These and other inputdevices are often connected to the processing unit through a user inputinterface that is coupled to the system bus, but can be connected byother interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port,or a universal serial bus (USB). A display monitor or other type ofdisplay screen device is also connected to the system bus via aninterface, such as a display interface. In addition to the monitor,computing devices may also include other peripheral output devices suchas speakers, a vibrator, lights, and other output devices, which may beconnected through an output peripheral interface.

The computing system can operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections to one or more remote computers/client devices, suchas a remote computing system. The logical connections can include apersonal area network (“PAN”) (e.g., Bluetooth®), a local area network(“LAN”) (e.g., Wi-Fi), and a wide area network (“WAN”) (e.g., cellularnetwork), but may also include other networks. Such networkingenvironments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computernetworks, intranets and the Internet. A browser application may beresident on the computing device and stored in the memory.

It should be noted that the present design can be carried out on acomputing system. However, the present design can be carried out on aserver, a computing device devoted to message handling, or on adistributed system in which different portions of the present design arecarried out on different parts of the distributed computing system.

Another device that may be coupled to bus is a power supply such as a DCpower supply (e.g., battery) or an AC adapter circuit. As discussedabove, the DC power supply may be a battery, a fuel cell, or similar DCpower source that needs to be recharged on a periodic basis. A wirelesscommunication module can employ a Wireless Application Protocol toestablish a wireless communication channel. The wireless communicationmodule can implement a wireless networking standard.

In some embodiments, software used to facilitate algorithms discussedherein can be embodied onto a non-transitory machine-readable medium. Amachine-readable medium includes any mechanism that stores informationin a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, anon-transitory machine-readable medium can include read only memory(ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; opticalstorage media; flash memory devices; Digital Versatile Disc (DVD's),EPROMs, EEPROMs, FLASH memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any type ofmedia suitable for storing electronic instructions.

Note, an application described herein includes but is not limited tosoftware applications, mobile apps, and programs that are part of anoperating system application. Some portions of this description arepresented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations ofoperations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmicdescriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled inthe data processing arts to most effectively convey the substance oftheir work to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is here, andgenerally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leadingto a desired result. The steps are those requiring physicalmanipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily,these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capableof being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwisemanipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasonsof common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements,symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. These algorithms canbe written in a number of different software programming languages suchas C, C++, or other similar languages. Also, an algorithm can beimplemented with lines of code in software, configured logic gates insoftware, or a combination of both. In an embodiment, the logic consistsof electronic circuits that follow the rules of Boolean Logic, softwarethat contain patterns of instructions, or any combination of both. Amodule can be implemented in electronic hardware, software instructioncooperating with one or more memories for storage and one of moreprocessors for execution, and a combination of electronic hardwarecircuitry cooperating with software.

It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unlessspecifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discussions, itis appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizingterms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or“determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action andprocesses of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device,that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical(electronic) quantities within the computer system's registers andmemories into other data similarly represented as physical quantitieswithin the computer system memories or registers, or other suchinformation storage, transmission or display devices.

Many functions performed by electronic hardware components can beduplicated by software emulation. Thus, a software program written toaccomplish those same functions can emulate the functionality of thehardware components in input-output circuitry.

While the foregoing design and embodiments thereof have been provided inconsiderable detail, it is not the intention of the applicant(s) for thedesign and embodiments provided herein to be limiting. Additionaladaptations and/or modifications are possible, and, in broader aspects,these adaptations and/or modifications are also encompassed.Accordingly, departures may be made from the foregoing design andembodiments without departing from the scope afforded by the followingclaims, which scope is only limited by the claims when appropriatelyconstrued.

1. A refueling vehicle, comprising: a cab; a fuel tank; afuel-dispensing module having a driver-side hose reel with a first hoseon a driver's side of the refueling vehicle and a curbside hose reelwith a second hose on a curbside side of the refueling vehicle oppositethe driver's side of the refueling vehicle, wherein the fuel-dispensingmodule is positioned between the cab and the fuel tank.
 2. The refuelingvehicle of claim 1, wherein the first hose has a first end and a secondend, a first fuel nozzle is located at the first end of the first hose,and a first spliced tank-to-tank connector is located between the firstend of the first hose and the second end of the first hose.
 3. Therefueling vehicle of claim 2, wherein the second hose also has a firstend and a second end, a second fuel nozzle is located at the first endof the second hose, and a second spliced tank-to-tank connector islocated between the first end of the second hose and the second end ofthe second hose.
 4. The refueling vehicle of claim 1, wherein the firsthose has a first removable fuel nozzle.
 5. The refueling vehicle ofclaim 1, wherein the second hose has a second removable fuel nozzle. 6.The refueling vehicle of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is divided intomultiple compartments.
 7. The refueling vehicle of claim 1, wherein atleast one of the driver-side hose reel and the curb-side hose reel is anelectric-powered rewind hose reel.
 8. The refueling vehicle of claim 1,wherein the driver-side hose reel and the curb-side hose reel are bothelectric-powered rewind hose reels.
 9. The refueling vehicle of claim 1,wherein at least one of the driver-side hose reel and the curb-side hosereel is a spring-rewind hose reel.
 10. The refueling vehicle of claim 1,wherein the refueling vehicle has a rear axle positioned beneath thefuel tank and supporting a set of rear wheels.
 11. The refueling vehicleof claim 1, further comprising a first front safety light bar and afirst rear safety light bar, wherein: the first front safety light barand the first rear safety light bar are both located on the driver'sside of the refueling vehicle, the first front safety light bar and thefirst rear safety light bar are positioned such that the fuel-dispensingmodule is interposed between the first front safety light bar and thefirst rear safety light bar.
 12. The refueling vehicle of claim 11,wherein the fuel tank is positioned between the first front safety lightbar and the first rear safety light bar.
 13. The refueling vehicle ofclaim 12, wherein a driver's side door of the cab is positioned betweenthe first front safety light bar and the first rear safety light bar.14. The refueling vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first front safetylight bar and the first rear safety light bar each include a flexiblelight-emitting diode (LED) light assembly that is configured to bendwhen the LED light assembly brushes against an object.
 15. The refuelingvehicle of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first front safetylight bar and the first rear safety light bar includes a plurality ofLEDs that are configured to be operable to provide i) continuousillumination, ii) flashing illumination, or iii) a combination ofcontinuous and flashing illumination.
 16. The refueling vehicle of claim11, wherein at least one of the first front safety light bar and thefirst rear safety light bar are connected with the refueling vehiclewith a mechanical arm that is rotatably connected with another portionof the refueling vehicle with a pin connection having a removable pin toallow the mechanical arm to be disconnected from the refueling vehicleif the mechanical arm gets stuck in the horizontal orientation.
 17. Therefueling vehicle of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first frontsafety light bar and the first rear safety light bar are connected witha corresponding actuator configured to cause the safety light barconnected thereto to transition between a vertical orientation and ahorizontal location when actuated.
 18. The refueling vehicle of claim 1,further comprising a command module that has a display screen and atleast one of a wireless data transfer system and a cellular datatransfer system, wherein the command module is configured to conveyrefueling location information and vehicle fuel preference information.19. The refueling vehicle of claim 17, wherein the command module isfurther configured to provide route information relating to refuelingrequests.
 20. The refueling vehicle of claim 1, wherein the refuelingvehicle has full skirting extending downward from the fuel tank.